Page 99 of Hunt Me, Daddy

“You are aware theoretically. You are ignoring it practically.”

Heat moved through me.

“You don’t get to tell me what to ignore,” I said.

“In my apartment, on my systems, while men are trying to kill you?” His gaze pinned mine. “Yes, I do.”

My pulse ticked up a notch.

“You keep forgetting I’m not yours.”

His expression darkened, just a little, just enough that I should have shut up, but I kept talking anyway.

“I’m not one of your men,” I continued. “I’m not some asset you moved behind a wall. I’m not your responsibility just because you decided you wanted the job.”

He stood up slowly. I should not have found that as effective as I did.

“I have forgotten none of that,” he said.

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

“Then stop acting like you own the right to make decisions for me.”

He stepped closer. I remained seated for a moment, which felt like losing some kind of invisible war, so I stood too.

“Do you want the professional answer or the honest one?” he asked.

“Both.”

“The professional answer is that you are currently under threat from an organized crime network with the resources and motive to kill you, and you are being reckless.”

“And the honest answer?”

His eyes dropped to my mouth once, then back.

“The honest answer is that if you take one more unnecessary risk because you cannot stand not being the one in charge, I will put you over my knee and make sure you remember the difference between bravery and disobedience.”

The room went silent.

Completely.

My body lit up so fast that I couldn’t even attempt to deny it. I just hoped he wouldn’t notice how much of an effect that had on me.

“You did not just threaten tospankme during a work discussion,” I said.

“I did.”

“You’re insane.”

“Possibly.”

My face was hot. My pulse was fluttering like a hummingbird. Every inch of me felt too aware of him, of the space between us,of his hands, of the memory of his mouth and the fact that he had already stopped once because he was trying to be careful.

I wanted him to stop being careful.

I wanted him to be wrong enough that I could leave.